The Opelousas courier., 1887-03-19
A SUCCESSFUL RUSE.

II can stand this any longer, Kitty
this suspense is wearing out my life.
mean to have a talk with your father
this very night and know the worst,
whatever it is"
Brown-eyed, brown-haired Kitty Cline
looked up in dismay at her lovers cloud
ed and r~esolute face.
ooh, Robert, be patient a little while
longer. You know just how contrary
and set in his way father is. If you do
IS you say, the upshot will be that he
will forbid you coming to the house at
all. You leave it TO me. I have a plan
in my heal. Be at Cousin james to-
morrow evening and I will tel you how
it works"
As Robert Dunn left the house, which
he did with a lighter heart than when
he entered it, he met Mr.. Cline, who
glared wrathfully at him in return for
his pleasant greeting.
He was a short, thick-set man, with a
red, uncomfortable looking face, as
though his collar was too tight for him.
Stamping into the house with consid-
erably more noise than was necessary,
lie turned to the window where Kitty
was sitting humming a tune, a careless,
unconcerned look upon her face, which
belied the frightened feeling at her
heart.
"What's that young fellow coming
here SO much for, Kittyw
Kitty tossed her head with an air of
disdain.
'tFor what he won't get, smart as he
thinks himself. He wanted that / should
let him speak to you, but told him that
it wouldn't be the least particle of use."
The old man glared at his daughter
with an air of mingled astonishment and
indignation that was ludicrous to wit
ness.
"You did, hey"
"Yes," replied Kitty, composedly,
threading her needle. "He seems to
have got the idea into his head, some
way, that you would favor his suit, but
] told him that it wouldn't make any
difference if you did,"
Here Mr.. Cline fairly choked with
rage, being unable to give utterance to
his feelings only by an inarti culate
"Aud that, furthermore, he needn't
take the trouble to call here again." con-
tinued Kitty, placidly, apparently un-
of the storm that was gath
"And have you the assurance to tell
me, miss" burst forth the indignant old
gentleman, THAT my favoring his suit
will make no dlfferencea'
"Well, papa, of course I'd be sorry to
run counter to your wishes :"
Il rather think you would be" inter
her father; tft's an operation
that you would not care to repeat-not
while I'm above ground. Mr.. Dunn is
an intelligent and worthy young man,
of whose preference any lady with the
least particle of sense would be proud.
| shall invite him to continue his calls
here, and remember that 1t is my wish
hat you treat him with the respect and
consideration that he deserves
Having thus delivered himself, Nj.
Cline left the room with an air of great
satisfaction, Kitty making no response,
AVE by d subdued sniff behind the
handkerchief in which she had buried
her face.
Having first made sure that her father
bad taken himself off down the street,
dried her laughing eyes, and as soon as
L began to grow dusk she went over to
her cousins, where she knew Robert
would be waiting for her, to tell him of
her success and to instruct him into his
part in the little comedy that was being
AtMr. Cline's express invitation he
continued his calls with more frequency
han before, being treated by Kitty,
her father waspresent, with a cool
less which the young man took with
very cornmendablo philosophy and ~
ignation.
Einbcldened By the marked encour-
Igenncnt given By the old gentleman,
Robert finally asked him for the hand of
is daughter, receiving his unqualified
Robert expressed his gratitude ii
YARN terms, taking care to hint sthat
had not received much encouragement
Niss Kitty